

Ok, so why do so much of the work beforehand? The reason this is so important is because time is not on your side once you pour a cold drink. It might look like a lot, but it all becomes second nature over time. So before you dive in and start actually making the drinks, you want to work through the pre-pour checklist below. Photographing cold drinks requires planning on a different level than shooting food or hot drinks. The secret to taking great photos of cold drinks is that at least 90% of the work is done before the ice hits the glass There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s start with what I consider the biggest takeaway.

If you’re shooting drinks for social media and short on time, check out my tips for taking better Instagram cocktail photos. Check out my beginner equipment recommendations at the bottom of this post. Just being able to manually adjust your camera’s settings and switch between lenses are photography game changers.
PHOTO REFLECTOR BARS PROFESSIONAL
Most of the recommendations here can be applied to creating images with your phone’s camera, but if you’re serious about improving your drink photos, consider investing in a consumer-grade DSLR to start.Ī professional grade camera isn’t a requirement to take quality photos for social media or a blog. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Whether you’re a beginner troubleshooting common issues like reflections, or a seasoned food photographer looking to up your game, this guide will give you actionable tips that you can start using right now.ĭisclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
PHOTO REFLECTOR BARS SERIES
Subscribe to be notified about the next post in this series where we’ll dive more into drink-specific techniques such as splash photography and examples of lighting setups.

PHOTO REFLECTOR BARS HOW TO
I should have called this ‘how to photograph drinks like a pro – on a budget,’ because that’s exactly what I’m going to show you how to do.įrom budget-friendly equipment recommendations, to hacks like using $3 pieces of foamboard to reflect or block light, or a $2 bag of ice to get the clear ice look, this guide will have you taking gorgeous photos without breaking the bank. I’m a photographer-turned-cocktail-blogger and these are some of my best tips for creating beautiful, eye-catching drink photos. This photography guide will take you step-by-step through the process I use for setting up, styling, and shooting drinks and cocktails. There are reflections, melting ice, and condensation to deal with, not to mention unforeseen lighting issues and wilting garnishes!įortunately, once you have an understanding of lighting and a few pro tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be able to instantly improve your drink photos! Photographing cold drinks like cocktails can be challenging.
